Mar 19, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate College Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Services



Academic Advising

Champlain College places a high priority on student advising and considers it an integral part of the College experience. The advising process is designed to help students as they make important decisions related to their academic programs at Champlain and their career goals in general.

To this end, each student at Champlain is assigned a faculty advisor with whom they work to establish academic and professional goals and to select their courses for upcoming semesters.

Staff in the Registrar’s Office located in Perry Hall assist students in understanding their program evaluations and the requirements for graduation. They work closely with faculty advisors and program directors and are knowledgeable about the curriculum requirements for each program. They also assist students with registration processes and make referrals to College resources, as needed.

International Student Advising: In addition to the pressures normally experienced by college students, international students must cope with a new culture and a host of technical immigration regulations. The College has an international student advisor to help international students with these concerns and other issues.

Academic Support

Effective academic support outside the classroom can be as vital to academic success and an excellent college experience as what happens inside the classroom. Champlain College provides a range of academic support services, which can be accessed individually or through workshops. All of our academic services are designed to help students meet their educational and career goals and they are located in one, easy to access location:  the Grace Goodhue Coolidge House on Maple Street. The Coolidge building houses Champlain’s new S.M.A.R.T. Space (Study Mentors And Resource Tutors) and includes the following academic support services:

Academic Coaching  

Champlain’s professional academic coaches work with students in individual and group sessions on areas such as: self-advocacy, goal-setting, motivation, mindfulness, time-management, organizational strategies, study skills and test preparation, and reading comprehension skills. To make an appointment, contact academiccoaching@champlain.edu.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/academic-coaching-program

Online Tutoring Through Smarthinking

The College has contracted with Smarthinking to provide real-time online tutoring to students on a 24/7 basis covering math, business, writing, sciences and offering a range of tutorials. Tutors, who are teachers with advanced degrees, are available for live sessions until 3 am. Students can access Smarthinking through the College portal.

http://www.smarthinking.com/solutions/higher-education

Tutoring for English Language Learners (ELL)

Champlain provides a professional educator trained in tutoring bilingual and multilingual students whose native language is not English. Tutoring is provided one-on-one and in small group settings and on-line. To make an appointment, contact Rebecca Baker at rbaker@champlain.edu.  

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/english-language-tutoring

Tutoring Labs with Student Tutors

Champlain supports several “Labs” staffed by trained students who provide content tutoring in the most high demand areas including: Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Math and Writing. For more information and hours of operation, select the links below.

Accounting & Finance Lab  

Champlain’s Accounting & Finance Lab provides tutorial and homework assistant for students taking Math and Accounting courses.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/accounting-and-math-lab

Information Technology Lab

The Information Technology Lab provides tutoring and homework assistance to students taking Information Technology courses through the ITS Division.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/its-peer-assist-lab

Math Lab

Champlain’s Math Lab provides tutorial and homework assistance for students taking math courses. Stay five minutes or as long as you’d like.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/math-lab

Writing Center 

The Champlain Writing Center is dedicated to creating a culture of writing across campus that values inquiry, creativity and public service. The Center provides free support to students, faculty and staff working on any writing project. To make an appointment, contact: writingcenter@champlain.edu or 802-383-6672.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/writing-center

Mindfulness Practice and Stress Management Tools

The S.M.A.R.T. Space also offers group sessions and quiet spaces to practice mindfulness, biofeedback tools to learn stress management, light boxes (when prescribed by the Counseling Center), and other areas to de-stress and focus on studies.

Services from Stern Center for Language and Learning

In addition to the College’s own academic coaches, students may access the services of the Stern Center for Language and Learning on Champlain’s campus for an additional fee, arranged directly with the Stern Center. The Stern Center’s academic coaches assist students with building skills in executive functioning, social thinking, writing, reading and math. Contact them directly http://www.sterncenter.org/contact for more information about their services and fees.

(http://www.sterncenter.org)

 Bookstore 

The Champlain College Bookstore is located on the first floor of the CCM building and is open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The bookstore sells school supplies and all required texts and course materials. Also available are convenience items such as coffee, snacks, drinks, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and other sundries, postage stamps and a variety of items with the Champlain College insignia (T- shirts, sweatshirts, glassware, ceramics and more). Suggestions for new items that might be stocked are always welcome.

During “Book Rush” at the beginning of each semester, bookstore hours are extended so that you may purchase items needed for the first day of classes. Have your textbooks waiting for you at the bookstore by ordering online at www.champlain.bkstr.com. As a special service, the bookstore coordinates a winter and spring “Book Buy Back” so you can sell your used textbooks.

We encourage you to purchase your books through the bookstore to receive the best service, the correct book and the best price. Students who order their books from sources other than the bookstore will not be eligible for tuition refunds if those books arrive late and jeopardize their ability to begin their coursework.  The best price promise offers to beat any other price by 10% (other than the peer-to-peer market.)  Go to the web site for more information or inquire at the store.

Rental options will appear as you order your books online. Fill out a one-time rental registration and you will be set to rent textbooks throughout your Champlain experience. Rentals are available online or in store.

You may purchase your books in the store or online at www.champlain.bkstr.com. Online orders can either be shipped to your home, or you can place a prepaid pickup order and have the books waiting for you when you arrive on campus. Prepay pickup orders can be placed through August 21st. When you arrive on campus, come to the Bookstore with your ORDER NUMBER AND ID. If you do not have your order number, you cannot pick up your books.

When placing an online order, you may see as many as four choices of your required course materials. There will usually be an option for a new or used text. You may also notice a rental or digital option appearing. Rental is an excellent option for keeping your up-front cost down. Digital options are also available for some textbooks. Once downloaded, a digital book can be highlighted; notes can be taken and then shared with other students using the digital format. If you would like to experiment with a digital text, please go to CafeScribe.com where you can download a digital text for a trial period. All options can be purchased online or in the store. During the first week of class, all course materials can be refunded or exchanged with a Bookstore receipt. When ordering online, you will be asked if we can substitute new or used condition books if the option you picked is not available at the time. If you pick “no”, there will be no book in your order nor will you be charged. If you pick “yes”, then we will substitute new or used and the price will be adjusted accordingly.

Campus Dining Options

Campus Dining Services, located in the IDX Student Life Center, is open to all students. Residential students participate in the College’s Carte Blanche meal plan and simply present their ID card to the cashier; all residential student meal plans allow for unlimited access to IDX Dining. The Carte Blanche meal plan includes $150 residential flex dining each semester for use at the retail food court in the CCM building called “EATS,” featuring Zime, The Grill, Chloe’s and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Additional flex dining dollars can be purchased online. The Carte Blanche Meal Plan and Flex are not refundable and expire at the end of the school year.

Off-campus and commuter students may purchase a commuter meal plan.

EATS and IDX Dining also accept cash and Champlain Cash card.

Sodexo Campus Services is proud to partner with Champlain College in providing quality dining experiences for all diets. Please visit http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/residential-life/dining-services for more information.

Vending machines providing coffee, soft drinks, juices, snacks and other on-the-go fare are located in various campus buildings.

Career Collaborative

Career Collaborative provides comprehensive, innovative career education to all degree seeking students and alumni at Champlain College. Its team of professional coaches actively prepare each student with industry relevant information and meaningful opportunities for the successful transition into internships and career relevant employment. Engagement starts the first day of classes and continues throughout the lifetime as Champlain College alumni. Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the vast array of program offerings and events that will best prepare them for the competitive job market and professional life:

  • Designated professional career coaches for each of the academic programs and majors
  • A Work Study & Part Time Job Fair on the first day of classes
  • A Career Conference & Fair in the fall and spring semesters
  • A series of On Campus Recruiting (OCR) and On Campus Interviewing (OCI) with employers throughout the academic year
  • Mock Interview Days and individual practice interview sessions with career coaches, faculty, staff, and employers
  • Collaboration with our academic divisions and campus partners on Signature Career Events, including an Elevator Pitch Competition, Senior Game Show, and Champlain Connect employer visits
  • Free enrollment in ResumeBooks and Career OneDocs for internship and employment matching
  • Peer-to-Peer drop-in hours every Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) to create or edit resumes and LinkedIn profiles, write cover letters, and learn to use JobSpot to search for work-study, internships and part-time or full-time opportunities
  • A series of Career SMARTalks that cover up-to-date information on interviewing, career paths, industry information, and developing a professional career marketing strategy

For general questions, contact Career Collaborative directly at careercollaborative@champlain.edu or at (802) 860-2720. The office is located in the Garden House at 328 Maple Street (behind Juniper Hall) and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Counseling Center and Accommodation Service

Confidential counseling services are available for students who are dealing with personal issues, mental health issues or academic concerns. Counselors at the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service can help students with concerns including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, alcohol and drug use, physical or sexual abuse, relationship concerns, stress management, sexuality, and crisis management. The counselors meet with students individually and at times in groups (with the consent of all participants).

The counselors can help students manage crises in a number of ways. A counselor can accompany a student to the emergency department at the hospital in the case of a psychological emergency, or in the case of a sexual or physical assault, to the police department or family court as needed. The counselors can assist students in making contact with appropriate campus officials and community agencies and resources as necessary.

Through the services of our psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP), students with more significant mental health needs can be medically evaluated and treated. The psychiatric nurse practitioner works closely with the counselors, and is skilled at diagnosing and treating mental health issues, including prescribing medication when indicated. Students must be involved in an ongoing relationship with one of our counselors in order to access the services of our PNP.

Counselors will make referrals to community resources when appropriate and/or if the treatment recommendation is beyond the Counseling Center’s scope of practice. Prevention and education are important components of the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service. Programming is offered throughout the year.

 Counselors can also provide follow up counseling in the aftermath of a personal crisis. Someone from the counseling staff is available 24 hours a day in addition to our own clinicians we collaborate with ProtoCall a 24-hour telephonic behavioral health service. The counselor on call can be reached through the College’s Campus Public Safety Office at (802) 865-6465.

Academic accommodations and support services are available through the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service for students who have documented learning challenges or other conditions requiring accommodations. Professionals trained in understanding staff the Center and managing learning, physical and mental health challenges. Champlain College will make all reasonable accommodations for the documented needs of an otherwise qualified student or applicant for admission. In order to be eligible to receive academic accommodations or other accommodations in residence halls, classrooms or extracurricular activities, students must provide documentation and meet with one of the designated counselors in the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service office. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the documentation, meet with the appropriate counselor and provide each faculty member with the accommodation forms. More detailed information regarding the College’s accommodations procedures is available from the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service (http://www.champlain.edu/student-life/student-services/accommodations-services.) Students managing special learning, physical or emotional challenges are provided with reasonable accommodations, but are also held to the same standard of academic achievement as all other students.

Grievance Procedure Regarding Accommodation Services

Students with grievances related to an accommodation determination, procedures for accommodations, or provision of accommodations are encouraged to resolve the complaint with the Counseling and Accommodation Services, 802-651-5961 whenever possible. If the student’s grievance is directly related to the actions of the Counseling Center and Accommodation Services, they may immediately file a grievance with the Assistant Vice President for Student Life.

To file a grievance, the student must notify the Assistant Vice President for Student Life in writing of the complaint. The notice should state the nature and details of the complaint, the names of other witnesses or participants, and the remedy the student seeks. The request must be signed by the student and filed within 30 days of the alleged violation.

Once a complaint is filed, the Assistant Vice President for Student Life will convene a committee to hear the case. The committee, by majority vote, will determine whether a violation occurred. If the committee determines a violation has occurred, the committee shall recommend an appropriate remedy for the situation. The Assistant Vice President for Student Life will decide whether to accept, reject, or modify the recommendation of the committee, and will take action in accordance with his or her determination.  The decision of the appeal process is final.

Students also have the right to register a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights may be contacted at the following address:

U.S. Dept. of Education
Office of Civil Rights
POCH 222
Boston, MA 02109

Students may also register a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission, at the following address:

Vermont Human Rights Commission
14-16 Baldwin Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-6301
(802) 828-2480 (voice/TDD), (800) 416-2010 (voice)

If a student feels that any action has been directed against him or her because of a disability or perception of a disability by College faculty or staff, or another student, the student may contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (802-860-2784) and/or initiate a complaint under the College’s harassment, discrimination and hazing policy and complaint procedure (see Discrimination, Harassment and Hazing Prevention Policy).

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center is available to help you with health concerns or problems, either directly or by referral to an appropriate physician. Please call for an appointment. You are welcome to walk in, but we may not be able to see you immediately, in which case we would schedule you for a return appointment. A nurse practitioner is on campus weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Student Health Center is open to all students, whether covered by the College insurance program or through their parents’ or guardians’ policies. There is no charge for visits to this office.

Notification of Illness: It is the responsibility of you or your physician to report serious illness or hospitalization to your parents or legal guardians; you should not assume that anyone else will notify them.

In addition, it is your responsibility to notify your instructors of any illness that prevents you from attending class or completing assignments, and to arrange to make up any classes you miss. The Student Health Center cannot excuse you from class. However, in the event of a serious illness, the Nurse Practitioner, working with staff from the Counseling and Accommodation Center, will help to contact faculty and make appropriate plans for your continued academic success, as practical and given academic requirements. The staff in the Student Health Center will also work with your health care providers in coordinating your treatment and recovery to the extent appropriate given the nature and scope of the College’s residential and academic programs.

Insurance: When you were billed for admission to Champlain College, you received information detailing the provisions of a College sponsored insurance plan. If you participate in this group policy and wish to make a claim, you must submit the claim as soon as possible after the onset of any illness, accident or injury that requires medical attention beyond that provided by Champlain College. The staff in the Student Health Center can help you fill out the claim form. Keep in mind, however, that the College sponsored plan is a secondary insurance policy that is to be used only after you submit a claim through your parents’ or your own primary policy.

The Student Health Center will not bill your insurance plan for services we provide. However, if the Student Health Center submits labs to a local laboratory as part of your plan of care, we will ask you to provide your insurance information so that the laboratory can bill insurance as appropriate.  Further, if Student Health provides you with a prescription for medication to fill at a local pharmacy, you will need to use your insurance to fill the prescription.

Medical Leave Policy: See Re-enrollment and Re-admission to Champlain College.

Identification Card/Cash Card Office

Upon arrival on campus, each first-year student is issued an identification card. This card serves as the official College ID, library card and dining services card for those on a meal plan. For residential students, the card is encoded for access to their residence hall and room.

Online students may request an ID card by e-mailing a photo to: newstudentids@champlain.edu. Your picture should be a color individual head shot in .JPG format; no hat, no sunglasses. In the e-mail subject line, use firstname.lastname. Include an address where the ID card should be mailed.

All students must show their ID for access to the Fitness Center and to ride any of the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) buses at no charge.

Optional conversion of the ID card to a CC Cash Card is available. The Champlain Cash Card is a debit account added to your Champlain ID card to purchase goods and services on campus, like laundry facilities and the bookstore, as well as at multiple vendors around town. The Cash Card balance is refundable to students when leaving Champlain College, less a $10 processing fee.

Students should keep their ID cards from year to year until graduating. Lost, damaged or stolen cards may be replaced for a fee.

Library Services

The Champlain College library is housed in the Robert E. & Holly D. Miller Information Commons and provides information services to support the research and instructional needs of the Champlain College community. The library provides books, periodicals, online journals, e-books and audiovisual materials, as well as laptop computers that students may use within the Miller Information Commons. In addition to these resources, the library staff provides reference services, interlibrary loan services and instruction sessions for students and faculty. The Information Commons houses computing labs as well as quiet study rooms for individual or group student use.

The library is open over 100 hours per week during the school year. Reference librarians are available to assist students during most open hours.

Hours for holidays and intersession periods are posted on the library Website before each break.

All library patrons must present a current official Champlain College ID card at the circulation desk in order to borrow materials or when asked by a staff member. Patrons are responsible for returning or renewing all items charged to their account on or before the date on which they are due. Patrons with overdue items will be unable to check out additional items and will be billed. The library will make reasonable efforts to contact patrons with overdue materials; however, it is the responsibility of the patron to know when materials are due and to return them promptly. The full list of library policies and procedures, as well as contact information for library staff, may be found on the library Website: www.champlain.edu/Library.html.

Military and Veterans Services

Veterans and Military Services Office

The Veterans and Military Services Office provides support to students who are veterans or currently in the military and their dependents. The office offers a wide range of services, which include:

  • VA and military education benefits counseling
  • Certification of enrollment to the VA
  • VA financial processing
  • Troubleshooting VA and military education benefit issues
  • Advocate for military and veterans on campus
  • Coordinate services with VA vocational rehabilitation counselors
  • Assistance completing: Veterans Online Application (VONAPP), Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other related applications

Military and Veteran Education Benefits

Champlain College is recognized as a military-friendly institution. We are committed to supporting our veteran and military students and their dependents through participation in numerous veteran and military education programs. These include:

  • All versions of the Veterans Administration GI Bill
  • The VA Yellow Ribbon Program
  • VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
  • Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
  • ROTC Scholarships
  • Affiliation with the University of Vermont ROTC Green Mountain Battalion

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Champlain’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) leads initiatives that support the creation of a safe, empowering and inclusive community for all campus stakeholders and help our students graduate with the skills they need to thrive in a global, multicultural and interdependent world The Office of Diversity and Inclusion works in collaboration with Academic Affairs, the Department of Student Life, students, faculty, staff and community members to create and support a diverse and rich community that provides many opportunities for all to be engaged,  involved, supported, heard and celebrated. The office is located in the IDX Student Life Center.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion sponsors a wide-ranging variety of programs and events. Traditional Programs include CARE (Champlain Achievement Retention and Education Program) Pre orientation, The ODI Mentoring Initiative, ­­, monthly Diversity and Inclusion Lunch workshops and panels, The Empowerment Program and student-initiated programs.

Student Support Initiatives: outreach and advocacy for all students, with a special focus on underrepresented and non-dominant groups through the CARE program, the ODI mentoring initiative, Quest (men of color affinity group) and Shades of Me (women of color affinity group). The ODI also collaborates with and supports campus affinity groups such as INCLUDE (LGBTQ student group), PAUSE (student activism group) Stiller Women in Business, the Alternative Name Project and Rainbow Alliance (Employee affinity group).

The ODI has capacity to provide direct success support to students of color, New Americans and low income students, while partnering with and connecting other special populations and non-dominant groups (women, LGBTQ, veterans, accommodation students, first generation college students, students from different religious affiliations, etc.) with support services and advocates across campus (Student Life, Financial Aid, Counseling and Accommodations, Health and Wellness, etc.)